Biologic therapy may be used in the treatment of kidney cancer that has spread.

Biologic Therapy

Biologic therapy is a treatment that uses drugs to improve the way your body’s immune system fights disease. Your immune system is your body’s natural defense against disease. Biologic therapy attempts to repair, stimulate, or enhance the immune system so that it can fight the cancer more effectively. These therapies can be used to fight cancer or to reduce the side effects that may be caused by some cancer treatments.

Examples of agents used to treat kidney cancer include interferon and interleukin 2 (also known as IL-2, aldesleukin, or proleukin).

Interleukin 2 (IL-2) is approved for metastatic kidney cancer, when the disease has spread to other places in the body. The medicine is given by shots under the skin or by IV. Treatment may be given in cycles separated by a rest period. Although only about one in six patients with renal cell carcinoma have shrinkage of their cancer with IL-2, some of these patients have disappearance of their cancer that can be long lasting. Unfortunately, the medicine has many side effects and is not appropriate for all patients with renal cell carcinoma.

A combination treatment of
bevacizumab and interferon-alpha is used for patients with kidney cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. The medicines are given by IV and work by preventing the growth of new blood vessels to the tumor. The most common side effects are hypertension and gastrointestinal bleeding or perforation.

Effectiveness

Interleukin 2 produces responses in 15% of kidney cancer patients. Interferon response rate is about 15%. The combination of interferon with other chemotherapy drugs and IL-2 increases the response rate.

Sunitinib (Sutent) attacks both blood vessel growth and other targets that stimulate cancer cell growth. The results show tumor shrinkage in one third of the patients treated. Side effects may include:

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.